Heat exchanger



C. J. O'BRIEN HEAT EXCHANGER Sept. 14, 1954 Filed Sept 2, 1950 1 Em GEE Patented Sept. 14, 1954 HEAT EXCHAN GER Charles J. OBrien, Lockport, N. Y., assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application September 2, 1950, Serial No. 183,018

3 Claims.

This invention relates to heat exchange devices for heating or cooling relatively viscous fluids such as oil employed in lubricating engines and other mechanical devices. Also the invention has particular relation to members or devices adapted to be disposed in the tubes of such heat exchange devices for increasing the turbulance of the fluid flowing through such tubes and thereby increasing the quantity of oil or other such fluids which may be cooled by any such there is employed a pair of heads II and I2, the heat exchange device. edges of which are adapted to be reinforced by An object of the invention is to provide a heat suitable end frames I3 and I4. The end frames exchange device which will perform efficiently, I3 and I4 are supported in spaced relation to one which is easy to construct and to assemble, which another by bars or plates I6 and I! which are will not get out of order, and which may be conbent laterally at the ends to form flanges for structed and assembled from parts which may be engaging the adjacent surfaces of the frames l3 manufactured at high production and at low and It. The adjacent ends of the bars or plates cost. I6 and I1 are adapted to overlap one another and It is proposed to employ turbulence members the ends thereof are secured together by welding in the tubes of heat exchange devices, which can or by other suitable means. The flanges I8 and be manufactured by the employment of simple I9 and the edges of the heads II and I2 are setools, which can be easily installed in the tubes cured together upon the frames I3 and I4 by of such heat exchange devices, which can be easibolts indicated at 2|. 1y removed and cleaned, and which can be han- The heads H and I2 each are formed in such dled during the process of manufacture without a way as to provide inwardly disposed depresbecoming entangled with one another and withsions therein, within the central portions thereof out bending out of shape and otherwise becomand within the frames I3 and I4. These depresing distorted and useless. sions in the heads I I and I2 are indicated by the For a better understanding of the invention numerals 22 and 23, respectively. Rows of tubes reference may now be had to the accompanying indicated by the numerals 24, 26, 21, and 28 are drawing forming a part of this specification in secured in heads II and I2 between the depreswhich: sions 22 and 23, there being any number of these Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional rows of tubes that may be required in providing V w t h a part of the heat exchange device a heat exchange device of the desired, capacity. embracing the Principles of the invention- The individual tubes in these rows of tubes are Figure 2 is a different view of the structure indicated throughout n of the rows by the illustrated by Figure 1, but taken substantially ,129 in the plane of line 2-2 of Figure 1 loo g in Each of the tubes 29 is secured at the opposite the direction of the arrows ther e011- ends thereof in the headers 22 and 23. It is conre 3 is a fragmentary Vi w of he s uctu 40 sidered preferable in such structures to have the disclosed y Figures 1 and 2 looking d y ends of the tubes project a short distance beyond at a portion of the lower surface thereof. Figure th heads and within the depressions as m 3 is taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figur trated in Figures 1 and 2. The tubes may be se- 1 looking in the direction of the arrows thereon. cured i t heads 1 and |2 by welding, 1 Figure 4: is a p spective view of the end parts mg, brazing or otherwise'securing the ends of the f one of the flow direc n or turbulence tubes in the openings formed in the heads for bers mp y d in t t exchange structure receiving the tubes. It is also considered prefd s d y t preceding fi ur s. In Figure 4 erable, as is illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, to have the middle portion of the structure is broken the tubes in alternate rows spaced halfway beaway and removed and the two ends thereof tween the tubes in the rows adjacent thereto.

brought together so as better to illustrate certain features embraced in the member.

Referring particularly to the drawing there is illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 a heat exchange device In which is particularly adapted for cooling oil employed in lubricating large engines such as Diesel engines employed in driving electric locomotives. In such structures the cooling fluid employed is usually water though any suitable cooling fluid may be employed. Also the structure may be employed for cooling any relatively viscous or other liquid in any installation where such cooling may be required.

In the apparatus indicated by the numeral Ill The depressions 22 and 23 in the heads I I and I2, respectively, are adapted to be closed by outwardly depressed headers which are not shown but which are provided with suitable inlet and outlet conduits for supplying and exhausting oil of water or other cooling fluid or liquid, not

shown, and the cooling liquid surrounding the apparatus may be circulated to and from the tank referred to for the purpose of externally dissipating the heat absorbed by the apparatus 19. The cooling liquid may be circulated within the tank by motor driven impellers Or by other suitable means and may be made to follow any desired path of circulation across the tubes 29 and the other parts of the apparatus [9 by the employment of baffles one of which is indicated In order to prevent the oil or other fluid from cooling and stratifying upon the interior surfaces of the tubes 29, it is desirable to employ some means for continuously stirring or agitating the fluid as it flows throughout the lengths of the tubes 29 and between depressions 22 and 23. In the illustrated structure such means employed is in the form of flow directing or turbulence members indicated generally by the numeral 32.

One of the turbulence members is inserted in each of the tubes 29 and each of the turbulence members 32 is adapted to extend somewhat beyond the ends of each of the tubes.

The turbulence members 32 are constructed in the form of plane surface strips of sheet metal Each strip at each edge thereof, the flanges at each edge preferably being bent in opposite directions with respect to one another. The width and shape of the turbulence members 32 between opposite surfaces of the flanges 34 and 36 is such that the turbulence members will extend diametrically across the tubes 29 when inserted therein. The flanges 34 and 36 are formed in such a way as to be arcuate in cross-sectional configuration with the radius of curvature of the curved exterior surfaces of the flanges being slightly less than the radius of curvature of the tubes 29. Hence, the outer surfaces of the flanges are slightly spaced and concentrically disposed with respect to the interior surfaces of the tubes 29, when the members 32 are disposed within the tubes 29. The clearance between the flanges 34 and 36 and the interior surfaces of the tubes 29 is illustrated in Figure 3 where the extreme lower ends of a plurality of the members 32 is illustrated.

In addition to the flanges 34 and 36, the members 32 are provided with tongues 31 which are formed between the flanges 34 and 36 and which extend transversely of the strip 33 and project alternately in opposite directions therefrom. The tongues 31 are formed by forming successive and equally spaced slits throughout the length of the strips 33, .each of the slits comprising parallel and oppositely disposed side slits indicated at 38'which are connected at corresponding ends in each pair of slits by end slits indicated at 39. The tongues 31 are formed by bending the material of the strips 33 laterally between the ends of the slits 38 opposite the end slits 39. The openings provided by so bending the tongues 31 are indicated by the numerals 41.

The length of the slits 38 and the curvature of the slits 39 is such that when the tongues 31 are bent laterally with respect to the strips 33, the arcuate ends of the tongues 39 will have the same radius of curvature as do the flanges 34. Hence, as will be apparent from inspecting Figure 3, there will be approximately the same clearance between the ends of tongues 31 and the the flanges 34 and 36, and the interior surface of the tubes 29, when the members 32 are inserted within and have assumed a central disposition within the tubes 29.

In order to secure the members 32 within the tubes 29 in such manner that the movement thereof will be limited in opposite directions therein, it is considered desirable to form stops or abutments at one end of each of the members 32 so that the members 32 cannot be inserted within the tubes 29 beyond the abutments referred to. Such abutments are formed by transversely and oppositely slitting the flanges 34 and 36 adjacent one end of each of the members 32 as is indicated at 42. After the flanges are so slitted, a part of each flange between the slit and the adjacent end of the member may be bent outwardly as is indicated at 44 to provide the abutments referred to. The abutments 44 will engage seats provided at one end of a tube 29 when one of the members 32 has been inserted into that tube by Way of that end. The opposite end of each of the members 32 in each row of tubes indicated at 24, 26, 21, and 28 may be held in position within the tubes of the respective rows by inserting wires indicated at 46 through the openings 4! adjacent the ends of the members 42 which are exposed beyond the ends of the tubes 29 in each row.

It will be apparent from the drawing that oil or other fluid to be cooled will be continuously agitated and mixed and caused to flow in many diflerent directions and at different velocities in its passage in either direction through the tubes 29 containing the turbulence members 32. The oil may flow through the turbulence members 32 from one side to the other thereof through the openings 4| or it may flow around the flanges 34 and 33 and in either direction from one side to the other of the members 32. In any event, and regardless of the direction of movement of oil within the tubes 29 and with respect to the turbulence members 32, the oil will be intermittently presented with a series of obstructions such as the tongues 31 and the flanges 34 and 36.

For example, the tongues 37 will continuously and successively provide obstructions at short intervals to the flow of oil on either side of the turbulence members 32. these obstructions, it will be compelled to flow either around the sides of the tongues 31 and between tongues 31 and the flanges 34 and 36 or between the arcuate ends of the tongues and the interior surfaces of the tubes. If the oil flows around the sides of the tongues 31, it will be stirred and mixed and agitated by the edges of the flanges 34 and 36 and will be caused to flow at different velocities due to the irregular shape of the openings in such regions.

If the oil flows around the ends of the tongues 31, it will first be directed against the interior surfaces of the tubes 29 and then the velocity of the oil will increase as it passes through the clearance space between the ends of the tongues 31 and the interior surfaces of the tubes 29. Likewise, if the oil passes through the spaces between When the oil meets the flanges 34 and 36 and the interior surfaces of the tubes 29, it will first be compelled to abruptly engage the interior surfaces of the tubes and then to increase in velocity as it flows through the clearance spaces referred to. If the oil flows through the openings 4| from one side to the other of the members 32, it will be stirred and agitated and the straight line flow of oil that might otherwise occur will be interrupted.

The assembly of the apparatus is made relatively easy by the presence of the flanges 34 and 36 on the members 32. These flanges tend to prevent bending of the members 32 under ordinary circumstances and with the clearance which is provided between the flanges 34 and 36 and the ends of the tongues 31, and the inside surfaces of the tubes 29, it is possible to insert the members 32 in the tubes 29 as fast as the ends thereof can be inserted in the tubes. After the ends are so inserted, the members will fall by gravity into the tubes.

The flanges 34 and 36 also facilitate removal of the members 32 from the tubes 29 for the purpose of cleaning the tubes and the members by chemical or mechanical means.

It will also be apparent that the flanges 34 and 36 will facilitate the manufacture of the members 32. These flanges will stiffen the members 32 and make them easy to handle and due to the relative absence of sharp ends and sharp edges, it is possible to fill a large container with the members 32 without them becoming snarled and tangled so that they Will be diflicult to remove from the container when it is desired to assemble the members in the tubes of a heat exchange device.

It will also be apparent that the members 39 can be manufactured from a minimum of material and that the manufacturing processes and tools required will be simple and inexpensive.

Iclaim:

1. A heat exchange device comprising a tube having a fluid deflecting device extending throughout the length thereof and beyond the ends of said tube, said fluid deflecting device having laterally disposed linearly formed flanges projecting in opposite directions from opposite edges thereof, a pair of oppositely disposed slits formed in said flanges beyond one end of said tube, said flanges being deflected outwardly beyond said slits to provide abutments adapted to engage seats at one end of said tube for preventing the movement of said device in said tube in one direction, an opening formed near the opposite end of said fluid deflecting device and beyond the opposite end of said tube, and a wire projecting into said opening transversely of the wall of said tube at said opposite end for limting the movement of said flow deflecting device in the opposite direction Within said tube.

2. A turbulence member comprising an elongated strip having a plurality of transversely disposed laterally projecting tongues extendin in spaced relation to one another and from opposite surfaces of said strip throughout the length of said strip, said strip being formed adjacent said tongues to provide openings extending between the opposite surfaces of said strip and said tongues being formed arcuately at the ends thereof, the arcuate ends of all said tongues being segments of the same circle projected throughout the length of said strip, said strip being formed to provide longitudinal and oppositely disposed arcuate flanges at the edges thereof, the curvature of the exterior surface of said flanges also forming arcuate segments of said circle.

3. A heat exchange device comprising a tube having a fluid deflecting device extending throughout the length thereof, said fluid deflecting device having a flange at one edge extending throughout the length thereof, a slit formed in said flange adjacent one end of said device, said flange being bent outwardly adjacent said slit to provide an abutment adapted to engage a seat at one end of said tube to prevent movement of said device in one direction, an opening formed in the opposite end of said device, a wire projecting into said openin and engaging the said opposite end of said tube to prevent movement of said device in the opposite direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,056,373 Segelken Mar. 18, 1913 1,595,746 Vecchio Aug. 10, 1926 1,770,208 Kemnal July 8, 1930 2,096,272 Young Oct. 19, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 680,070 Germany July 27, 1939 

